|
Volkswagen is set to launch one
of the world’s most
fuel-efficient liquid-fuelled
cars, the Polo BlueMotion, which
returns a combined fuel
consumption of 74.3 mpg and
emits just 99 g/km of carbon
dioxide.
To
mark its launch, Streetcar, the
UK’s largest pay-as-you-go car
club and Volkswagen customer and
partner, will be trialling the
Polo BlueMotion across 25
locations in London, creating a
partnership between the most
efficient car on the road and
the most efficient way to drive.
Streetcar provides a highly
flexible, convenient and cost
effective alternative to car
ownership. Members book a car
online or over the phone, as
little as 30 seconds ahead of
time, and use remotely activated
smartcards to unlock the
vehicle, which is typically
within three minutes walk of
their home. The company, which
has tripled in size each year
since its launch in 2004, now
has over 20,000 members and 600
cars across 400 locations in
London and five other cities.
By 2012, Streetcar expects to
have 150,000 members across the
UK.
The first UK examples of the
Polo BlueMotion join Streetcar’s
fleet this month, with a view to
a potential expansion in the
future. Next year, Volkswagen
will introduce BlueMotion models
in its Golf, Golf Plus, Golf
Estate, Jetta, Touran and Passat,
Passat Estate ranges.
Andrew Valentine, Streetcar
co-founder, said: ‘Streetcar is
committed to efficient driving –
for every Streetcar introduced
we take 20 privately-owned cars
off the road. And, along with
rapid expansion comes the need
for us to maximise the
efficiency of our fleet.
BlueMotion technology provides
us with a great opportunity to
offer a more efficient option,
without compromising the
quality, style and comfort our
members have come to expect from
us. We view this as a very
exciting development.’
The Polo BlueMotion is powered
by Volkswagen’s three-cylinder
1.4-litre TDI 80 PS engine.
Additional fuel economy benefits
come from lower aerodynamic
drag, low rolling resistance
tyres, longer gearing in 3rd,
4th and 5th and small weight
savings that do not affect
safety or durability. In
summary the Polo BlueMotion can
seat five, has a top speed of
109 mph and returns a combined
fuel consumption figure of 74.3
mpg with prices starting at
£11,995 on the road. It is
available with three or five
doors and aimed at customers
seeking benchmark environmental
credentials in a car with
conventional service and repair
requirements, ease of ownership
and low overall running costs.
For more information about car
clubs in the UK, visit our
Green Car Hire page. |
|
